Vilnius Rytas take home the first Satchel Cup
Vilnius Rytas lifted the inaugural Satchel Cup trophy on home court after a 104:95 comeback win over Hapoel Jerusalem in front of their home crowd.
For Satchel, it was a fitting finish to a tournament we created to bring international competition to Vilnius and back a team we’re proud to stand behind.
Why we created the Satchel Cup
The Satchel Cup brought together four clubs from Europe and the Middle East: Lithuania’s Rytas, Turkey’s Esenler Erokspor, France’s JL Bourg Basket, and Israel’s Hapoel Jerusalem.
We created it because we believe ambition shouldn’t stop at borders.
That idea sits at the heart of Satchel. Every day, we help businesses and individuals operate internationally, making it easier to move money, reach new markets, and pursue opportunities wherever they are. We believe financial services should enable that ambition, not get in its way.
Sport is different, but the instinct is familiar. The best teams want to test themselves against strong competition. Fans want to see their clubs on a bigger stage. And cities like Vilnius deserve international events that bring new people, energy, and ideas into the market.
As title sponsor, we wanted the Satchel Cup to create more of those connections and to build something with the potential to become a fixture on the international preseason calendar.
As a proud sponsor — and a big fan — of Rytas, we also had someone to cheer for.
A final worth showing up for
Sunday’s final brought Rytas and Hapoel Jerusalem together for the title after both teams came through competitive semifinals.
Hapoel secured their place with a win over JL Bourg Basket, while Rytas delivered an emphatic 104:87 victory over Esenler Erokspor.
That set up one last game and quite a finish.
Rytas complete the comeback: 104:95
Hapoel started strongly and went into halftime with a 46:42 lead. Then Rytas changed the game. The home side dominated the third quarter, outscoring Hapoel 36:19 to turn a four-point deficit into a commanding advantage. Hapoel pushed back in the fourth, but Rytas held firm to close out the game 104:95.
A strong start — and more to come
Rytas leave the tournament with two wins, two 100-plus-point performances, and the first Satchel Cup trophy to their name.
Congratulations to the players, coaches, and everyone behind the club. And thank you to Esenler Erokspor, JL Bourg Basket, Hapoel Jerusalem, and all the fans who helped make the tournament what it was.
For Satchel, this was about more than putting our name on an event. We want to support ambitious teams, create experiences that bring people together across markets, and invest in the communities we’re part of.
The first Satchel Cup is in the books — we’re already thinking about what comes next.
